Zone defense sparks Lone Peak girls to upset of top-seeded West in 5A tourney opener


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TAYLORSVILLE — Monday evening’s Class 5A girls basketball state tournament opener between Region 2 top-seeded West and Lone Peak resembled more of a track meet than a basketball game.

The two sides opened at a furious pace, and the Panthers used it to their advantage, leading by as much as 10 in the second quarter.

Lone Peak coach Nancy Warner knew something had to change — and it was the Knights’ defense.

Savannah Flanary scored 18 points, including nine from the free-throw line, and Lone Peak used a 1-3-1 zone to stun the top-seeded Panthers 57-48 at Salt Lake Community College.

“We changed up our defense, and our defense is what got us turnovers and attacking the baskets,” Warner said. “We drew fouls and got to the free-throw line. I think our defense ignited the offense, and got us back into the game.

“We knew that our advantage was our height and that we had to play the perimeter and defender out there. We wanted to get into a groove, and we just kept trading baskets. At that point, I thought we had to do something different. It worked out in our favor.”

West (11-11) took a 19-16 advantage after the first quarter and pushed the lead to 27-16 when Abena Bakenra scored two of her game-high 24 points on a stick-back basket with just under six minutes to play until halftime.

Rather than fold up shop, the No. 4 team from Region 4 came back. Flannery paced a 10-1 run to end the half by connecting on 5-of-6 free throws, and the Knights trailed just 31-28 at the break.

From there, the comeback was one.

Lone Peak (10-12) opened the third quarter on a blistering pace, outscoring the Panthers on a 14-2 run and took a lead on a pair of free throws by Rachel Richards, who finished with 11 points.

Her biggest contribution, though, was playing at the point of Lone Peak’s 1-3-1 defense.

“We always say, play hard and play together. When you do those things, then things take care of themselves,” Warner said after. “I think they trusted in each other, and they trusted in themselves to do their own jobs. Things worked out from there.

“I think their hard work and effort paid off in the end.”

The Panthers didn’t die, either. A 3-point play by Bakenra to open the fourth quarter brought West within 46-41 with 6:21 remaining. But the Knights made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the upset.

“Those free throws sealed the game, but also kept the momentum on our side (during the game),” Warner said. “When you can extend the lead that way, it changes things for the team.”

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Lone Peak advanced to face Copper Hills in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

Region 4 teams were big winners in the lower half of Monday’s bracket, with Taylor Moeaki scoring 13 points to help American Fork roll to its 22nd-straight win with a 64-40 rout of Davis. The Cavemen advanced to face Fremont, who got 13 points from Berkle Lerohi in a 53-45 win over Taylorsville.

Earlier in the day, Viewmont outdueled Riverton in overtime, 56-51, and Sara Hamson's buzzer-beater helped Pleasant Grove eliminate reigning champion Layton.

Class 5A girls basketball state tournament
Monday's first round at SLCC
Pleasant Grove 33, Layton 31
Sara Hamson banked in a feed from Malia Brown at the buzzer to help the Region 4 top-seeded Vikings eliminate the reigning champs.
Sky View 55, Brighton 30

Kylie Hale had 18 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Bobcats rolled the Bengals. Bingham 69, Northridge 48

Sierra McNichol poured in 21 points to pace a 26-15 second-quarter run to help the Miners pull away from the Lancers.
Viewmont 56, Riverton 51 (OT)

Megan Carr had 20 points and six rebounds to help the Vikings turn a 26-20 halftime deficit into an overtime win.
Fremont 53, Taylorsville 45

Berkle Lerohl score 13 points, and freshman Haylee Doxey addd 10 as the Silverwolves topped the Warriors.
Morgan Toluono led Taylorsville with a game-high 17 points.
American Fork 64, Davis 40

Taylor Moeaki scored 13 points, and Paige Farnsworth added 11 with three 3-pointers as the Cavemen routed the Darts for their 22nd-straight win.
Teulila Alofipo score a game-high 24 points with five rebounds to lead Davis, which was held without a field goal until the 7:12 mark of the second quarter.
Lone Peak 57, West 48

Savannah Flanary scored 18 points, including going 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, to help the Knights stun the Region 2 top-seeded Panthers.
Abena Bakenra scored a game-high 24 points with 12 rebounds for West, which clung to a 31-28 lead at halftime.
Copper Hills 55, Clearfield 47

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